Cynthia Prairie

Kirwan education funding work group seeks $2.8 billion from state, $1.2 billion from locals by 2030 to offer competitive, “world-class” education to Maryland children; speculation rises as Democratic state senators called to Annapolis for unknown confab; Gov. Hogan issues plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions; Commerce Department seeks to raise oversight of loans, tax credits; Attorney General Frosh signs onto amicus brief backing Vermont ban on high capacity gun magazines; Rockville’s first vote-by-mail election to be more expensive, but may attract more voters; and, as Howard County debates school desegregation, racism rears its ugly head.

Gov. Hogan’s Change Maryland groups to host high-dollar fund-raiser to further political agenda, including stopping Kirwan education funding; Kirwan work group expected to vote today on $4 billion funding allocations; Speaker Jones says objections to State House Civil War plaque has to do with expressed Confederate sympathies; as criticism mounts over traffic backups due to Bay Bridge work, Hogan pushes back, says communications were open; Carroll County, inundated with opioids, refiles lawsuit against drug makers; two from Frederick County, on opposite sides politically, seek to bring civil discourse back; and Montgomery County files suit against vaping product maker.

Tropical storm pushes water up Bay, flooding coastal areas, roads in waterfront communities throughout state as Audubon study suggests large population of Maryland birds at risk of losing habitat; flooding models also suggest Naval Academy will have to seek new home; new Goucher poll finds blame for climate change depends on party affiliation; Queen’s Anne leaders continue to push state over traffic tangles during Bay Bridge work; state ramping up school safety plans; report finds Maryland schools can improve when it comes to lunch shaming; two nominees sent to Gov. Hogan’s desk to replace State Prosecutor Emmet Davitt; despite illness, U.S. Rep. Cummings continues to work on impeachment inquiry; Montgomery expected to sue vaping companies; and city group wants state to fine DPW over ruptured pipe, fish kill.

Multiple changes in state law required to make Preakness deal work; meanwhile, Stronach’s founder slams his company president-daughter, says deal can be improved; Arundel Exec Pittman to try to sell Preakness-Laurel Park deal to skeptical neighbors; citing safety, backups, Queen Anne’s official asks state to end two-way traffic along single span of Bay Bridge; after failing to get federal grants, Washington County first responders want commissioners to tout public-safety tax to state legislators; state agency concerns spark Carroll to study Piney Run Dam; Howard Council address Ellicott City flooding, school desegregation plan; and top city officials want full ban on plastic bags.

Amid pressure from state lawmakers, Hogan administration releases $900,000 aimed to ensure 2020 census counts; Preakness plan at first met with skepticism, winning some converts; despite Speaker Jones’ objections, State House Trust to amend plaque honoring Union and Confederate soldiers while removing rebel flag; state lawmakers continue working on getting more transparency when it comes to complaints against police; little data available to measure results of opportunity zones; Carroll County refiles opioid lawsuit; state elections board to consider another early voting site for Montgomery; and couples bring class action against federal agents over deportation move.

Baltimore City and horse-racing’s Stronach Group have come up with a plan to save Pimlico, keep the Preakness in Baltimore and held the surrounding community; while the deal has yet to be finalized, the road to even finding common ground was rocky; chairman of state medical marijuana commission says he is optimistic new round of licenses will include minority owners; a majority of members of the General Assembly get an A+ from the League of Conservation Voters; federal HIV grant to target Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George’s counties; EPA awards funds to deal with Conowingo pollution; grants aid security at places of worship; Frederick becoming a battle scene over immigration; and Baltimore City cops are highest paid city employees, including one who was suspended for ‘tarnishing the badge.’

Under mounting public pressure, Board of Public Works considers deadline implement plan to pay five exonerees; Transportation Secty Rahn blasted by BPW over severe weekend backs at the Bay Bridge; MTA gives Arundel residents a look-see of Bay Bridge expansion plans; with two new members tapped to fill vacancies in House of Delegates, ranks of those who first got their seats by appointment rises to 20%; state moves to demolition sections of Baltimore City Jail, while some historic preservationists say too much is being razed; and Baltimore County sets aside $16 million for school heating, air conditioning.

Gov. Hogan taps four new directors of the UMMS board, as changes continue following self-dealing scandal; Gov. Hogan also makes some changes to medical cannabis commission; state Health Department is urging e-cigarette users to find alternatives; three years after state mandate went into effect, more than two dozen state websites still lack language translation capability; state audit finds flaws in Coppin State’s systems for figuring out how much to charge students for tuition and how much financial aid to award; Washington County Board of Ed decides against proposing legislation in next Annapolis session; former Del. Lafferty talks new role as Baltimore County sustainability officer; with T.J. Smith stepping down from Baltimore County role, some believe he’ll run for city mayor; and Howard County to hold more public hearings on school redistricting plans.

Legislative audit of State Police finds discrepancies in hundreds of handgun serial numbers, concerns over financial practices; as lung illnesses, deaths continue, state urged to test vaping cartridges; Baltimore City, Gaithersburg joins suit against Trump administration over curbs on issuing green cards; Del. Luedtke pushes for 12th early voting site in Montgomery; after medical procedure, U.S. Rep. Cummings to return to Capitol Hill in two weeks; Baltimore County considers suing Monsanto over PCB contamination; Carroll County losing its dairy farms; opioid deaths in Frederick are down; “for now” judge dismisses as a “verbose complaint” a civil rights lawsuit alleging UMBC, county police and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office improperly handled sexual assault investigations; and UMd’s Diamondback newspaper to end print edition in March.